Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.

THE FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD

Morning Star, September 24, 1995, pg. 12

A couple of weeks ago our article
about the Russian Baptist Church brought back memories to older Albion
residents who attended there as children. This week we are featuring another
defunct Albion church which by accident I discovered had once been in
existence.

In 1918, the Sanborn Map Company of
New York City prepared an “insurance map” of Albion, which was used in
determining rates for the city. It drew outlines of every house in town,
listing the type of construction, the nearest hydrant, types of heating used,
and similar types of information.

On the southwest corner of N.
Clinton and W. Michigan Avenue where a billboard now stands, was once the
Albion Chemical Works. The building, addressed 201 W. Michigan Avenue, and 215
N. Clinton Street, had originally been erected in 1902 as a gasoline engine
plant which shortly thereafter closed. The Union Steel Screen Company moved to
the facility when it came to Albion in 1905 and was there for several years.

A drawing of this building appears
on the aforementioned 1918 map, in which is written: “Albion Chemical Works.
Oil & Grease Compounding. No watchman. Heat: Stove & Steam. Power and
lights: electric. Dry powder and fire buckets. 50 feet 2˝ inches of hose under
glass.” No doubt this site might make a great place for DNR soil sample
testing.

Attached to the rear of the plant on
the west is depicted a smaller building numbered “209” (W. Michigan Avenue)
which is labeled, “The Assembly of God Church.” That’s right! The local
Assembly of God Church on B Drive along I-94 celebrated its 50th anniversary a
couple of years ago, but the one on this 1918 map far predates the Assembly in
existence today. This discovery came as a total surprise. This would make the
1918 Assembly of God the first Pentecostal Church in Albion, predating the
Gospel Union Tabernacle which operated here in the 1930s.

The 1918 map shows that the Assembly
building was heated by a stove, and that it had electric lights. Because it was
attached to a factory, most likely the congregation was renting the facility.
Does anyone know anything about this surprise 1918 Assembly of God Church in
Albion?

From our Historical Notebook this
week we present a portion of this huge 1918 map, clearly showing the Assembly
of God Church attached to the rear (left, west) of the Albion Chemical Works.
to the left of the site would be the Albion Gas Light Company on N. Eaton
Street and a coal shed. To the north is found a spur railroad track, present
site of the paved W. Michigan Avenue south of the railroad depot.

If you would like me to feature some
more interesting details from this map in the future here in our Historical
Notebook, let me know.

If you've enjoyed learning about Albion history from this site, please write us a note in the Albion
Guestbook.
We hope you will take the time to share your interest and stories related to Albion history,
especially if you have any ancestors from Albion, please let us know.

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